FR2627219A1 - AUTOMATIC LOCKING SYSTEM - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an automatic locking system for motor vehicles. This mechanism includes a threaded pin which engages a pair of opposing rotary stops held within a strike assembly driven by an electric motor connected to the windshield post. Stops are configured to have a sloping portion that allows manual spindle thrust in the event of failure of the electric motor and / or convertible roof hydraulic system. Application: Motor vehicles.

Description

The present invention relates to vehicle locking systems

automobiles. More particularly

  The present invention relates to locking systems

  motor controlled tomatoes. And more particularly

  The present invention relates to locking systems

  automatic louvre for convertible car hoods, hoods

  luggage compartment, hoods for vehicle interior and the like.

  Until now, locking systems

  mechanical parts have been proposed for the hoods of cars de-

  covers and the like for use in applications

  Tomobiles. However, in systems known until now

  However, the snap pins tend to have their

  false letters, to seize or render, in a way or

  on the other hand, unusable mechanical systems and

  expensive repairs. On the other hand, the systems

  naked had no opportunity to hang the lock

  without the engine being started.

  On the other hand, these known systems required a relatively high accuracy for the alignment of the

  pin with the locking mechanism, otherwise the system

  was unable to function. Moreover, if the food

  was interrupted, it became virtually impossible, in these known systems to manually lock the hood

  mobile to the vehicle body.

  It must be considered that in modern automotive technology and with the ever-increasing diffusion

  convertible roofs, these known systems

  convents that make these convertibles less than

désirables.-

  In the current state of the market, purchasers of both sexes are attracted by the purchase of these vehicles. Without an automatic system eliminating the problems encountered in previous systems, these vehicles lose much of their

  attractive, especially for female buyers.

  As will be seen in detail below

  the present invention proposes a self-locking system

  which eliminates the disadvantages of previous systems.

  In accordance with the present invention, an automatic locking system is provided, comprising a

  source of energy, such as an electric motor, a rotating cylinder

  tative connected to the energy source for its rotation, a pair of opposing stops or cleats arranged in the cylinder and fixedly mounted substantially horizontally and a pin engageable by the stops

  which threads the spindle to the cylinder

  when the spindle comes into contact with the stops.

  In accordance with the foregoing, the stops are sloping surfaces, substantially opposed, having a specific configuration. The stops are so configured that they can engage the spindle when the orientation

  is vertical, but also oblique. This allows the engine to

  latch and lock the spindle even if the orientation, when approaching the cylinder, is not perfectly vertical, this

  which overcomes any blocking tendency or the like.

  Likewise, the spindle has a configuration thread.

  specific ration which, associated with the configuration of the sloped surfaces which allows a vertical as well as anoblique alignment for the thread interlocking. Similarly, the pace of

  spindle is such that if the engine can not rotate the cylinder

  the spindle can be pushed by hand to

  stops to allow manual locking.

  The attached drawing, given as an example

  non-limitative, will provide a better understanding of the

  of the invention. The drawing reference numbers refer to the same parts in all views: Figure 1 is a partial elevation view

  side of a convertible type vehicle containing the system

  FIG. 2 is an exploded view in partial perspective of the locking system FIG. 3 is an exploded view in perspective of the attachment or striker assembly.

  Figure 4 is a top view, in sectional view of

  FIG. 5 is an exploded sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG.

  Figure 6 is a plan view of the cleats u-

  used in the practice of the present invention,

  Figure 7 is an elevational view of the former

  tremity taken along line 7-7 of Figure 6 Figure 8 is a section taken along line 8-8 of Figure 6 and

  Figure 9 is a partially superimposed

  Having the interlocking between the pin and the cleats It should be noted from the outset that although the present invention is described with reference to a convertible vehicle roof, the invention will be useful in all

  cases where an automatic locking on movement is desired

  downhill. For example, still in the automotive environment, in addition to locking convertible roofs, the present invention is useful for automatic locking.

  luggage box covers, car roofs and similar

  lar. Similarly, the lock of the present invention can be used to fix the rear bow of a convertible type vehicle;

  With reference to the drawing, and more specifically

  1, an automobile 10 is shown having a convertible or folding roof 12. As is known to those skilled in the art to whom the present invention

  Convertible or folding roofs usually include a

  flanging of fabric fixed on a plurality of hoops or

  toises which cross the width of the vehicle and fold backwards and forwards by a plurality of linkages which

  interconnect the different poles or spacers that

  try the fabric. The actual construction of the convertible roof

  and the linkage system for folding and deflecting

  folding are not part of the present invention per se.

  With again reference to the drawing, and more

  particularly FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 9, a system of ver-

  automatic rusting according to the present invention is

  represented and is identified as a whole by 19. The system

  automatic locking system includes a locking spindle

  the rusting is marked in the aggregate by 20. The locking pin

  includes a rod portion 22 and a support portion of

  mounting 24 in one piece construction.

  The stem part is formed of a sen-

  - 4 sibly cylindrical carrier on its periphery with a thread

  external helicoidal. The helicoidal thread is adapted to engage

  expensive set 34 waste, as detailed above. To be effective in the concept of the present invention, the part

  threaded rod 22 has a pitch varying between 45 and 60 approximately

  material and a diameter of about 12.1 to 13.2 mm

  The support is a substantially

  30 comprising at least one slot 32 (two slots are shown). According to the embodiment shown on

  the drawing, the support engages the headband of the roof

  12 (not shown) and receives a threaded fastener 33 through the slot and which is interposed or attached by

  threading the head arch to mount the spindle

  20. The slot allows adjustments or positioning of the locking pin to ensure proper alignment

  allowing threaded engagement of the striker assembly 34.

  Referring now to Figures 2, 3,

  4, 5 and 6, the striker assembly or the striker itself are

  with the overall reference 34. The strike or the ver-

  rust 34 is mounted on the windshield pillar 36 by any suitable means; usually the strike is enclosed in a

  decorative casing for aesthetic purposes only.

  The lock assembly or striker 34 com-

  usually takes a power source such as motor

  38. The engine is a 12-volt DC motor, capable of

  Seducing a rotating output shaft 40.

  A worm 41 is formed outer-

  on the output shaft of the engine and as

  lé, and competes with a pinion 42 to cause a rotation

  horizontal of a pair of opposing locking elements.

  The electric motor is powered by the vehicle itself, by electrical connection to the alternator or the battery according to a method well known to those skilled in the art. A switch (not shown) is inserted between

  the engine and the power source to enable the function

engine.

  A crankcase identified by 44 is connected

  corded to the motor 38; this housing contains or houses the locking elements for the spindle 20 - 5 -

  Housing 44 includes a support for

  46 which threads the housing 44 to the motor 38. The worm 41 projects out of the engine into the housing 44.

  Housing 44 contains a sensitive element

  Cylindrical 48 with high and low open. An opening 50 is made in the wall of the element 48 and through

  which the worm 41 protrudes.

  In axial assembly vertically in the element 48 is a cylindrical crown gear open inside 42. The crown pinion 42, as it is said below causes the rotation of a pair of stops or cleats or locking elements. to the causal rotation of the crown pinion 42 by

  its engagement with the worm 41.

  The crown pinion 42 rests in the element

48 and can turn freely.

  A drum 52 is journalled in the open interior of the crown gear 42 and can rotate therein. The drum has an annular flange 54 which carries at the top of the crown gear and has a substantially equal diameter. Superimposed on the flange 54,

  there is an enlarged plate 56 formed integrally with the drum.

  52 and the flange 54. The top plate 56 has a

  central opening 58 which allows the pin 20 to make

  binds. The plate 56 holds the seat r8le for the elements of

  locking as described below.

  The locking elements defined by a pair of stops or cleats 60, 60 'in the opposite direction of declivity rest on the plate 58. The declivity stops 60,

  60 'have a slope of about 15 and on the most

  slope of approximately 45, as shown in Figures 7 and 8. As a result of the configuration of the

  declination of stops, the threaded rod 26 of the spindle

  rusting 20 contributes to thread locking with these

stops.

  Similarly, as a result of the slope angle of

  sloping portions 60a and 60b, the rod 26 can be maneuvered

  hand-locked to manually lock the spindle to

the whole striker.

  As shown in the drawing, a 6-biased element, such as coil spring 62, envelops opposing stops and pushes them toward the central opening 58 in

  which projects the rod 26 to the lock.

  An upper plate 64 rests on the

  stops in opposition and has a central hole 66 through the-

  What is the stem 26. A pair of threaded holes oppo-

  68, 70 receive threaded fasteners 72 (only one is

  shown) for threaded interconnection of the upper plate

64 at headquarters 56.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the seat 58 has a flange 74 which has a central threaded orifice 76 which receives the threaded fastener 72. Thus, when the threaded interconnection is between the upper plate 64 and the seat 56, the gradients are placed between them. The height

  stops is slightly less than the height between

  upper face of the seat 56 and the lower surface of the upper plate 64 to allow a slight vertical movement between them. In addition, a cavity 80 is formed in the lower surface 81 of the upper plate 64. The cavity provides stops positive blocking as follows. When the stem is

  maintained by the judgments, the forces exerted thereby

  feel against the spring and produce on the stops a force turned outward and a force from the bottom up. The upward force pushes the stops in the cavity 80 of the lower face of the surface 82 to retain the stops positively. As clearly shown in Figure 3,

  an annular groove 78 is formed in the drum 52.

  80 clips fits into the throat to hold the drum in

  element 48 to define a unitary set.

  In operation, the electric motor initiates the rotation of the worm 41 which in turn, to

  because of its meshing with the 42 sprocket

  the rotation of the drum and stops. The spindle

  rust is conducted in the inlet port or inlet 66 by a suitable hydraulic system associated with the movement of the convertible roof and as the downward movement progresses, it engages the pivoting stops. The vertical and lateral forces caused by the rod act against the end points of the slopes and exert sufficient force to oppose the springs 62 and push the stops outside the inlet and to threadingly engage the threaded portion of the rod. The biasing force directed inwardly of the spring 62 holds the stops in engagement with the threaded portion to positively lock the rod in the striker assembly. Reversing the motor and rotating the assembly in the opposite direction cause the spindle to retract

the entrance 66.

  Also, as has been said above, as a result of the geometry of the declining parts of the stops in the case where the hydraulic circuit is faulty, the rod

  can be pushed past stops and positively

  for positive manual locking.

Claims (13)

  1 -Automatic lock mechanism includes   a) a threaded spindle to engage with a striker; b) a striker assembly, comprising: 1. a pair of opposing cleats that engage the spindle, 2. the   means for biasing the cleats to engage   the spit, 3. the means of. rotation of the cleats   to cause thread rotation between the arms   and the spindle, and c) a power source for rotation of the rotating means. 2 - Mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the striker assembly further comprises: a) a cylindrical element b) a rotational crown gear resting inside 1 'the cylindrical element c) a drum having an orifice central seat for seating the stops, the drum having a reduced diameter portion which carries inside the crown gear and is rotatable, d) an upper plate interconnected with the drum, the stops arranged between the upper plate and the drum (3).   3 - Mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that: a) the cylindrical element has an orifice formed in the side wall; b) the rotation means of the cleats comprise: 1. a rotary output shaft coming from the energy source and and on which a crown pinion is mounted, the crown pinion protruding into the side wall of the cylindrical member and engaging the crown gear to cause rotation.   4 - Mechanism according to claim 3 characterized in that the power source is a motor reversible electric.   5 - Mechanism according to.revendication 1 characterized in that the power source is a motor reversible electric.   6 - Mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that each cleat has a part declining   with a leading edge formed at an angle of 45, each   cleavage having a slope of substantially 15.   7 - Mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that the spindle has a pitch of between 45 and about 60, and a diameter between 12, 1 and 13.2 mm approx.   8 - Mechanism according to claim 7 characterized in that the biasing means exert   sufficient force to push the cleats into   expensive with the pin, while allowing the pin to   to be pushed beyond manually.   9 -Vehicle with convertible roof including an automatic locking mechanism according to one   any of the preceding claims, namely:   a) a threaded spindle mounted on a roof arch vertible, and   (b) a striker assembly mounted on the body of the vehicle   cule, characterized in that the striker assembly comprises: 1. a pair of cleats opposite that engage the spindle   2. the polarization means so that the catches engage   the spit; 3. the means of rotation of the cleats to produce a   thread rotation between the stops and the spindle.   -Mechanism according to the claim   9, characterized in that the striker assembly further comprises re: a) a cylindrical element   (b) a rotating ring gear placed inside the drum   c) a drum having a central hole for seating stops, the drum having a reduced diameter portion which mounts in the crown gear and is rotatable a) an upper plate interconnected with the drum, the stops being arranged between the plate superior and the drum (11).   11 - Mechanism according to claim 10, characterized in that: a) the cylindrical element has an orifice formed in the side wall b) the rotation means comprise: a rotary output shaft, connected to the power source, on which is formed a worm, the worm protruding into the side wall of the cylindrical member and engaging the crown gear to produce its rotation. 12 - Mechanism according to the claim   11, characterized in that the energy source is a modulus reversible electric motor.   13 - Mechanism according to claim 9, characterized in that the energy source is an electric motor (14).   14 - Mechanism according to claim 9, characterized in that each cleat has a sloping portion having a leading edge formed at an angle of 45   each slope having a slope of substantially 15. - Mechanism according to the claim   14, characterized in that the spindle has a step   between 45 and 60, and a diameter be 12.1 and 13.2 mm.   16 - Mechanism according to the claim   14, characterized in that the biasing means exerts a force sufficient to urge the catches to engage the pin, while allowing the pin of   to be pushed beyond manually. 17 - Self locking system   mat $ ue according to claim 9, characterized in that   a) the spindle is carried on the first arch of the roof vertible, and   b) the striker assembly is mounted on the windshield pillar.